Baby-walker.



H. L. CRANFORD.

BABY WALKER.

APPUCATIQN FILED FEB. 23-A 191s.

1,297,800. Patented Mar. 18,1919.-

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BABY-WALKER.

Specicaton ofLetters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed February 23,1918., Serial No. 218,789.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY L. CRANFORD, a citizen-of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented newand useful Improvements in Baby-Walkers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of devices known asbaby walkers and aims to provide means for supporting a child in amanner to relieve the legs of the weight of the` body and at the sametime permit free movement of the former, the supporting means impartingthe required confidence, so that ability to walk is quickly acquired. Tothis end the invention conteniplates the provision vofy a receptacle orseat adapted to receive the child in a manner to permit of its feetcontacting with' the floor or other surface, the seat 'being resilientlysuspended from a supporting arm,which is rotatably mounted upon astandard, the connection between the seat and arm permitting of a radialas well as a rotatable movement about the standard.

The invention also resides in the following novel details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, to be later fully described andillustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is aperspective view of a baby walker embodying the invention and illusitrating the preferred form.

Fig. V2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the standardillustrating a modilied form of the supporting arm.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of'Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of a further modified form of thesupporting arm.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a still further modified form of supportingarm.

Referring to the drawings in' detail, the numeral 10 indicates astandard which is formed of a lower section 11 and an upper section 12,the latter telescoping the former and being secured in adjusted positionby means of a set screw 13. The opposite ends of each of the sections 11and 12 have secured thereto plates 14 and 15 respectively, by means ofwhich they may be secured to the floor and ceiling or to any otherconvenient location.

. Mounted upon the support 1() for rotation 20 at the proper height andat the same time permitting of the free rotation of the arm 16.

Located beneath the arm 16 and in alinement therewith is a rod 23 ofsubstantially U-shape, the arms 24 serving to connect the rod to the arm16 and to space the same therefrom. Mounted upon the rod 23 is `agrooved' roller 25, which is journaled in a U- shaped member 26,provided with a depending eye 27. This eye receives a flexible ele-Vment, preferably in the form of a strap 28, which serves to connect theroller with a coiled spring 29, one end of the spring being securedwithin the loop formed by the' strap and its opposite end carrying aring 30 through which is threaded straps or other flexible elements 31.These straps serve to support a seat herein shown in the form of abasket 32, which is provided with openings 33 in the bottom thereof forthe passage of the legs of the child. The openings 33 are spaced apartand form a saddle 34, so that the child may be supported to prevent theentire weight o-f its body resting upon its legs. If desired the basketmay be provided with a cushion 35 to pro-vide a rest for the back of thechild.

In the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the arm 16a is formed of twosections 36 and 37, the latter telescopingr within the former to permitof a radiali adjustment of the arm. The section 36 is provided on itsupper surface withv a longitudinal slot 38 from which extends spacedflanges 39, the latter forming a track for a grooved roller 40. Theouter end of this track is inclined as shown at 41, so that the roller40 may be passed from the section 36 to the section 37 and back againwhen desired. The section 37 is provided with a stop 42 which is adaptedto abut the outer end of the section 36, the height of this stop beingsubstantially the same as the lower edge of the inclined portion 47 ofthe track 39. The extremity of thesection 37 has also secured theretoastop 43 to prevent the roller 40 from leavingv the arm. f v

In order to provide for a free movement of the section 37 Within thesection 36, the outer end of the latter is provided with spacedears 44and journaled between these ears is a roller 45 which receives theweight of the section 37. Other rollers 46 are journaled between theflanges 39 and bear upon they upper surface of the section 37, so thatfriction between the sections 36 and 37 is practically eliminated. Theroller 40 is mounted in a yoke 47, which carries an eye 48 for thereception of the telescope element or strap 28 as previously described.

f In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a further modification of theinvention. In this form of the invention the section 49V telescopeswithin the section 50, the latter having spaced rollers 51 mountedtherein `which bear upon the upper and" lower surfaces of the section 49to permit of a free movement of the latter. A roller 52, similar to therollers 25 and 40 is mounted for movement along the section 50, thisroller carryingV a depending loop or bail 53 to which the flexibleelement or lstrap 28 may be secured.

. It is believed that when the foregoing description is read inconnection with the accompanying drawings that the construction,

, use and advantages of the invention will be lio apparent and a moredetailed -description of its operation is unnecessary. The invention issusceptible of further changes in its form, proportion and minor detailsof construction, thus previously described and shown, and right isherein reserved to make such changes.

The modified form of supporting the arm in Fig. 5 consists in formingthearm of two sections 55 and56, the latter telescoping withintheformer. The section 55 is tubular in form, while the section 56 maybe either semi-cylindrical or rectangular as preferred, the former beingillustrated. The section 55 is provided at one end with a groove 57within which is journaled a wheel 58, with a pintle 59, the wheelbearing against the inner periphery of the section 55. Y At the oppositeend of the section 55, there is'journaled a roller 60 to support theweight of the section 56 at this end.

Having thus Afully described the invention, what is claimed is l. Adevice of the class described embodying a supporting standard, aradially disposed extensible arm mounted for. rotation thereon landcomprising an outer section and anV inner section telescopically mountedYWithin the outer section, anti-friction rollers carriedA by onesectionfor contact with the opposite section, a roller mounted.formovement over the arm, a seat suspended :from the roller anda'stoplocated at the v'outer extremityof the innerarm and a lug alsocarried by saidV arm to provide a sea-t for the roller, whereby ltheinner .arm may be moved longitudinally through the 'medium of thesuspended seat.` f f,

3. A device of the class described embodying a 'supporting standard, aradially disposed extensible arm mounted for rotation thereon and'comprising an outer section and an inner section telescopically mountedwithin the outer section, longitudinally disposed spaced ianges carriedby the outer section, anti-friction rollers positioned between-andhaving bearings in said flanges for contact with the'inner section, saidflanges also providing guide rails, a roller positioned beneath theouter section and extending ythrough the opening therein lfor contactwith the inner section, a carriage mounted for travel over the guiderails and a Seat suspended from said carriage.

In testimony whereof I aftxiny signature.

HENRY L. kCRANFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of` Patents,

Washington, D. C.

